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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Hugh Jackman Channels Jean Valjean-like Vulnerability and Passion in the New Trailer for THE WOLVERINE

Remember when I said that I felt more comfortable watching Hugh Jackman sing and dance morosely, Broadway-style, than play a character like Wolverine again? Well, I still mean that.

But, in the new trailer for THE WOLVERINE, the latest venture for the comic book character that reportedly takes place after X-Men 3, it looks like the actor somehow took the vulnerability and rugged heroism from his Jean Valjean performance in last year's Les Misérables and applied it to the grizzly, down-on-his-luck antihero. Or, at least that's what I'm telling myself.

Seriously, it looks like this movie is actually about something. There seems to be a beginning, middle and ending to the character's journey, at least based on the trailer. And, since Jackman is the only major star of the movie (unless you count Famke Janssen), this could really show off his acting chops in a whole new way. I hope.

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes
Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern
day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate
nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed.
Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional
limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner
struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we
have ever seen him before.

Yeah, I can get down with this. The only aspect that is a bit of concern for me is sreenwriter Mark Bomback, whose memorable credits include Live Free or Die Hard and last year's Total Recall. If you remember, those two films weren't anything to write home about. But Girl, Interrupted and 3:10 to Yuma director James Mangold is at the helm, which could make everything better.

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More About Reel Talk Online and Its Founder

Writer for hire, Lover of Snark, Former editor at Essence Magazine and Co-Host of the podcast, "Cinema in Noir".
I am mostly freelance writing right now, more so than blogging. You can find my work on The Mary Sue, Vice, Harper's Bazaar, Hello Beautiful, Thrillist, Birth.Movies.Death, and /Film. (https://www.clippings.me/candicefrederick)
I am also a member of the Online Film Critics Society, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and LAMB (Large Association of Movie Bloggers). My aim for this blog is to write honest, compelling film reviews and commentary that highlight my perspective on film, TV and diversity in pop culture.